[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6215800,"mediaKeyId","3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08","parentId",3656106,"title","Sen. Tim Grayson convenes East Bay wildfire preparedness meeting; Orinda to join regional working group","audioSeconds",542,"startMs",4504000,"endMs",5046000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08&start=4504&end=5046","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08/thumbnail_4504000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215800/Orinda-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Sen-Tim-Grayson-convenes-East-Bay-wildfire-preparedness-meeting-Orinda-to-join-regional-working-group","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215800-e71cbf3e14ce26c69ec40d11fa54316f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196735&Signature=fxOlhxQ5~yQC6HRwzjVqfPJY6smylB98bSx-DjtQ90B4JjX1NzZoMJKcc7W0UPtrpNGHPQHNDfnofAcBdyaM7fMw-Iq6~yPR5O-mugunQHuAbdjhX0FZTTOn8Fyz-0DY0wK3IegOYetk-USfcQuTorl2Gk7-KNu-~2pxW97S37z7N2EcOdocl~1M6G0uRZ2wQUE-FLwGM3DZYMiztxQsYTuXeGB1QeduUMQdhGUehwEFoe0f6InlnD1pG9KQh3MF1ylmJjkRiT1--StP40gkd8JHB6jmyCS-9XAYLZ2QvXLXnuk-GDjbN1~nUs8ZoTzJgkXQ9SZ0r1xfwdLCzGV~Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Orinda CA","date","2025-06-04T15:33:13Z","article","Orinda council members reported a regional meeting convened by state Sen. Tim Grayson that brought together about 40 local and regional officials and agency representatives to begin forming an East Bay wildfire preparedness working group.

Council members said the June meeting included representatives from East Bay Regional Park District, East Bay Municipal Utility District, PG&E, Caltrans, multiple fire agencies (including Moraga‑Orinda Fire District and Contra Costa agencies), local city officials and district staff from Sen. Grayson's office. The meeting was invitation only and focused on brainstorming shared vulnerabilities and coordinated responses rather than assigning blame.

Why it matters: council members said a coordinated master plan could help jurisdictions identify shared needs (vegetation management, evacuation routes, fire road access), prioritize projects, reduce redundant planning and form a stronger basis for regional or state funding requests. Participants also discussed permitting obstacles and potential CEQA streamlining to allow more efficient vegetation management.

Highlights from the meeting and follow up

- Formation of a working group: notes from breakout sessions will be aggregated and the senator's office will coordinate next steps. The stated product is an East Bay wildfire master plan identifying vulnerabilities and collaborative priorities.

- Multi‑agency participation: councils reported attendees included park, utility, Caltrans and multiple fire jurisdictions; the broad participation was described by council members and staff as a productive first step.

- Near‑term aims: coordinate vegetation management across jurisdictional lines, identify potential evacuation routes and fire roads that cross non‑city lands, and develop a shared case for funding to support maintenance and mitigation.

Council reaction: council members said the meeting's value was in getting agencies together to discuss practical barriers (for example, working with Caltrans on evacuation access or streamlining permits for vegetation work) and that the East Bay Regional Park District signaled interest in expanding vegetation management with outside funding. One participant, Chief Isaac, was quoted in the meeting summary as saying, \"The only thing worse than no plan is... the second worst thing is having two plans,\" underscoring the argument for a single regional approach.

Outcome: the senator's office will circulate aggregated notes and convene a working group to draft a regional wildfire master plan; no formal council action was required at the June 3 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Orinda City Council Meeting - June 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A meeting convened by state Sen. Tim Grayson brought about 40 regional stakeholders together to begin forming an East Bay wildfire preparedness working group, council members reported on June 3.","taxTitle","Orinda City, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",70905,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215815,"Orinda council adopts biennial budget, approves five‑year CIP and sets one‑time transfers to reserves",2267,2231000,4498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08&start=2231&end=4498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08/thumbnail_2231000.jpg","/articles/6215815/Orinda-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Orinda-council-adopts-biennial-budget-approves-fiveyear-CIP-and-sets-onetime-transfers-to-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215815-335b55fc9ec618f9911dc7ada5307d27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196735&Signature=EpBDEkG4y0gKGw7PNHMWHnXfFXJQ~t-7w-HIPp8QPu5CHigcXkfCBmMtJT3B~0~oFhdm8gE8iVtw-wl0tZ99~rn-If-vdja~1~qm5eegmVmtOX1mlfT4rsN3OjIQKdha6p~HOg5Ub6mb4-WBS7OpKSJSB7JltkncOO6sOgU00qtI5T6uEUwKL4S2FUSvC4X5O7da9OGPwUChUnMkq8h4MlmPR~Z1mgBokA4Udp5rwnf6cKZpCE~3EwnKY~FphAC9x9tJxVqVKrVP6rNDKC8emTmEtqBfrXFVAhq4KsiDm03SZ6gC0eidmwhJYsgZ1Jl0MQX0N3dT1mxsb6jleiU43g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orinda City Council on June 3 unanimously adopted the city's biennial operating budget for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 and approved the capital improvement plan (CIP) for fiscal years 2026–2030.

City staff characterized the plan as balanced and intended to maintain current services while directing one‑time uses of accumulated fund balance toward reserves, risk management and capital projects. Assistant City Manager Doug Lascio said, \"This is a balanced budget. It maintains current programs and services. Staffing levels remain constant.\" The council adopted the budget and the CIP by unanimous votes on the resolutions presented at the meeting.

Why it matters: the budget sets spending priorities and the city's immediate approach to infrastructure maintenance and emergency preparedness. The council approved transfers that staff said use accumulated resources rather than recurring revenue: roughly $975,000 to bring the council's reserve policy in line with the new budget level, about $685,000 to the risk management internal service fund to replenish reserves after recent claims and settlements, and $2,000,000 to the capital improvement fund (Fund 700) for projects without other funding sources.

Key facts and decisions

- The budget is a two‑year (biennial) appropriation covering fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27; the council also adopted the five‑year CIP through 2030. Staff described the document as balanced and as preserving existing service levels.

- Staff said the city finished the prior year with an unassigned general fund balance of more than $5,000,000; the recommended one‑time transfers use a portion of that balance, leaving additional unprogrammed funds for future needs.

- The staff presentation described several new one‑time or limited‑duration investments: a storm‑drain mapping study (about $500,000 funded from Measure R), an emergency operations plan and training (several hundred thousand dollars, Measure R), and a crossing guard contract in which schools will reimburse 50% of a roughly $120,000 cost.

- The CIP totals shown to council were roughly $22,000,034 in projects over the two‑year cycle and about $37,000,040 across the five‑year horizon; staff noted some projects continue from prior years.

Discussion points

- Elevator modernization: staff reported that continuing study of the library's public elevator increased the estimated cost from an earlier figure of about $125,000 to a working estimate near $225,000 for a fuller modernization. Several council members pushed staff to seek competitive bids and to limit discretionary authority, wanting a smaller or more tightly controlled contract if possible. Staff said any contract above the council's award threshold would return to the council for approval.

- Conservative revenue assumptions: staff said the budget uses conservative revenue forecasts (flat or slight declines on many sources besides property tax) and that sales tax and state actions are the most material external risks to future years. Measure R revenues were described as a comparatively healthy fund with an accumulating balance available for capital and paving projects.

- Internal corrections: staff noted small corrections since the draft (about $30,600 across two years in the general fund summary), a $16,500 correction for Assessment District 11 maintenance detail and an $85,000 correction restoring building maintenance operating items that had been inadvertently omitted.

Outcome and next steps

- The council voted unanimously to adopt the operating budget (resolution to appropriate for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27) and to adopt the capital improvement plan update for fiscal years 2026–2030. Council directed staff to continue to seek competitive pricing on major contracts (for example, the elevator work) and return to council for contract approvals when required by policy.

- Staff will continue monitoring state budget developments and other external revenue risks and will return to council with procurement results and any contract awards requiring council authorization.

Ending: The council praised staff for the presentation and the clarity of materials and approved the two resolutions by unanimous vote, concluding the budget and CIP items for the meeting.","The Orinda City Council on June 3 unanimously adopted a two‑year operating budget for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 and approved a capital improvement plan for 2026–2030, including one‑time transfers to reserves and the risk fund.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215810,"Orinda council confirms street‑lighting and landscape assessments for three zones; downtown M11 requires general‑fund support",767,1419000,2186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08&start=1419&end=2186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08/thumbnail_1419000.jpg","/articles/6215810/Orinda-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Orinda-council-confirms-streetlighting-and-landscape-assessments-for-three-zones-downtown-M11-requires-generalfund-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215810-8b875fc235103ec7f9b18d5a7a454e28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196735&Signature=FiYtFOHTVQn8ifgpSxBJCDMLfQa2CRgFej3DLGy3vx~sS8X7rEMc1XFOBP8Fg2pd3yH8keT3yTD3o2Rhm9SiA5ge1f5hXna95RC4m352Yq1fKbWgaI8yF8G4e~KjF38v1wH0Xuj8vOWBeMFR7FBVJqBrhNpiUxpSnmfSxfRETM2jSbmW9n7c7oqO7pFxBP5HF2jSnfKptmVjxVsm167dzMHAhmmbK7uPlNyOd7NHe39QT61djN-BFVVbA46Wweza1U11yxK9Jh039y2MwASYGLjez8h0qvPeTu5vhXzm73vkT2BzrgZTmXyWEUlPhwyazSaiCbmnEr75~G6fmTVwSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orinda City Council on June 3 held a public hearing and unanimously adopted Resolution 29‑25 confirming the diagram and assessments for the Orinda Street Lighting and Landscape Assessment District (No. 1986‑1) covering zones L42, M9 and M11.

Public Works Director Scott Cristo summarized the district: two zones (L42 and M9) are primarily residential and include a CPI adjustment approved by property owners in 1999, while M11 covers downtown areas and includes street lighting, irrigation and plant maintenance. Cristo told the council that the per‑unit change is roughly $2.08 for L42 and $2.19 for M9; M11 has no CPI increase because the property owner election did not authorize it.

Why it matters: council discussion highlighted the downtown benefit question. Council members noted the M11 district provides visible maintenance and lighting that benefits the public generally but that the engineers' apportionment treats most of the cost as a special benefit charged to the district. Staff said the city has discretion to reexamine apportionment with the consultant and to monitor contractor hours; staff also noted that in recent years the city has contributed general‑fund support to M11 maintenance, and that contribution has grown (staff cited roughly $77,000 for the current year to cover the shortfall).

Key details

- Resolution adopted: 29‑25 confirming diagram and assessments for the Orinda Street Lighting and Landscape Assessment District number 1986‑1, zones L42, M9 and M11. The council approved the resolution unanimously.

- Assessment changes: L42 and M9 include modest CPI increases (about $2.08 and $2.19 per unit respectively); M11 receives no CPI adjustment by its rules.

- Downtown maintenance and general fund support: M11 includes irrigation and plant maintenance for downtown medians and planters. Staff said the M11 budget includes a general‑fund contribution (approximately $77,000) and that electricity, water and landscape contract costs have risen faster than CPI.

Discussion and council direction

- Several council members questioned whether M11's share should be recategorized between special benefit and general benefit. Staff said the apportionment follows the consultant's methodology but that the city could talk with the consultant about alternate apportionments; staff emphasized the city's interest in maintaining downtown to support local businesses and public use.

- Council members also asked about other downtown maintenance funding sources; staff said the council retains discretion to reallocate funds from other budgets if the council prioritizes additional downtown landscaping or repairs.

Outcome: The council closed the public hearing, found no public speakers, and adopted Resolution 29‑25 by unanimous vote, confirming assessments for FY ending 06/30/2026.","After a public hearing on June 3, the Orinda City Council adopted Resolution 29‑25 confirming the diagram and assessments for the Orinda Street Lighting and Landscape Assessment District (1986‑1) covering zones L42, M9 and M11.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215805,"Orinda Association highlights \"Seniors Around Town\" rides, seeks volunteers for summer months",184,352000,536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08&start=352&end=536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3656106-b65c62082a1106db0e9c76499cc67b08/thumbnail_352000.jpg","/articles/6215805/Orinda-City/Contra-Costa-County/California/Orinda-Association-highlights-Seniors-Around-Town-rides-seeks-volunteers-for-summer-months","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215805-f480403173b9f6f5987b7f7c693f62f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196735&Signature=ezmRfuL5cSW0Q7OStRJ2CfI-fyLKl-gOqzx6dmpSGXvhsNDvruEUs9hn03UJLGe1T9ar-wvQEeutd5jIwLjrL1B8s0Xv7x8n4W2cl07WkXkukFAax9mhrWHmP~PkWAhJ2wX1KenCRdrxWap3Th5RvMrX0S-0MM-leprzpWafJqWBp0bFrdWDOtiQdFHybeMcOXWKFKqhPxT-vYJ1pfmNA50jFcYyI8YpRbmeJOxKmvSkoS0Tulb8barXx6WT5HX8ysvGyZpT1zvhV15Pb82bRE3uKqqftg4qCSgheWeF0vAdr1Uri7wdZpF7yPHmsBNCOcy0m0eEwIbkdQ7oFwVZag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Orinda Association presented its annual report to the city council on June 3, describing local programs and volunteer services that support seniors and community events.

Alex Drexel, vice president of the Orinda Association, told the council that the association operates a community newspaper, the Seniors Around Town (SAT) ride program and several large events, including a long‑running car show and the Fourth of July parade. He said the SAT program depends on about 70 volunteer drivers and a new scheduling software that has improved efficiency. \"We're becoming more efficient as well,\" Drexel said.

Key program details

- Seniors Around Town (SAT): Drexel said the service primarily provides single‑leg rides (so round trips should be counted as two legs) for seniors to appointments and errands. The program has roughly 70 volunteer drivers and a new program manager, Eloise Sotelo; staff and volunteers are also preparing a newspaper article on senior services and statistics.

- Volunteer shortfall and hours change: Staff reported that volunteer availability is an acute problem in summer months when volunteers take vacations. After an analysis of ride timing and staffing effort per ride, the association said it reduced SAT operating hours from the prior schedule of 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday to 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 9 a.m.–noon Friday. The change is based on usage patterns showing most rides occur earlier in the day.

- Events: The association said the annual car show (roughly 200 vehicle/motorcycle slots) is continuing and already has early signups; the car show date was listed as Sept. 6. The July 4 parade will be the community's 41st and the association plans a carnival under a new shade structure and family activities.

Why it matters: the SAT program provides transportation and social contact that residents and council members described as critical. Council members praised the program's reliability and personal attention to riders and encouraged additional volunteer recruitment, including outreach to high‑school students for seasonal help.

Ending: The council thanked Orinda Association leaders and staff for the report and for coordinating large community events and senior services.","At its June 3 meeting the Orinda City Council received the Orinda Association annual report. The association said its Seniors Around Town program relies on about 70 volunteer drivers and a new scheduling system; staff said summer volunteer shortages prompted a cut in service hours based on trip timing analysis.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sen. Tim Grayson convenes East Bay wildfire preparedness meeting; Orinda to join regional working group

Orinda council adopts biennial budget, approves five‑year CIP and sets one‑time transfers to reserves

Orinda council confirms street‑lighting and landscape assessments for three zones; downtown M11 requires general‑fund support

Orinda Association highlights "Seniors Around Town" rides, seeks volunteers for summer months